The Art of Delegation: A Journey to Empowerment, Effectiveness and Efficiency

” If you don’t know the art of delegation and how to use it, you’re not an effective and efficient leader. “

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

In the bustling corridors of modern leadership, the art of delegation stands as a beacon of empowerment and efficiency. Imagine an executive client of mine, Jennifer (alias), who once found herself overwhelmed with tasks, teetering on the brink of burnout. Her journey to mastering delegation not only transformed her leadership style, but also ignited a spark of growth and collaboration within her team.

Understanding the Importance

Jennifer realized that to truly empower her subordinates, she needed to understand their needs and thought processes, and help them learn to collaborate effectively. Delegation was not about offloading tasks; it was about mastering her time for strategic endeavors, protecting herself from burnout, and developing and maximizing her subordinates’ potential.

If you’ve read my article, “Personalized Leadership”, you’ll see that delegating is in one of the 4 quadrants in the 2-by-2 matrix of framework. If you want to become an effective and efficient leader, you need to learn how to delegate more effectively and artfully in order to develop your people as well as mastering your time, and your people are willing to do the tasks delegated to them, too!

There are 3 Phases of Delegation as follows:

1. The Pre-Delegation Phase

Before diving into delegation, Jennifer meticulously reviewed the contents and categories of tasks. She categorized them using the important vs. urgent matrix and the impact vs. effort matrix, tools she had learned in previous coaching sessions. Matching the right person to the right task was crucial. Sometimes, she even asked for volunteers, knowing that a willing participant would be more motivated to do the tasks.

She pondered the objectives and benefits of each task, not just for the organization but for the individuals and the team. Why choose this person over another? Why trust them with this responsibility? Setting clear expectations, defining the scope of work, and establishing deadlines and milestones were all part of her thoughtful preparation. She aimed to ensure that her team members felt valued and not coerced into doing the delegated tasks.

2. The Delegation Phase

With the groundwork laid, Jennifer moved into the delegation phase. Clear and effective two-way communication was her mantra. She provided detailed instructions and checked for understanding, emphasizing the objectives and benefits of the tasks. She explained why she chose each person, expressing her trust and confidence in their abilities.

Regular check-ins based on milestones allowed her to provide constructive feedback, both compliments and area of improvements. She encouraged her team to solve problems independently, stepping in only when necessary. Over time, as they grew more adept, she assigned more challenging tasks with less guidance, fostering their growth and strategic thinking.

3. The Post-Delegation Phase

The final act of delegation was reflection. Jennifer evaluated the final outcomes against her expectations, seeking insights, best practices and lessons learned from her team. She recognized and rewarded their achievements, sharing their success stories within the organization. This not only boosted their morale but also inspired others to step up when tasks were delegated.

Key Insights and Best Practices

Through this journey, Jennifer distilled several key insights:

1. Always put the right person in the right job.
2. Understand the benefits for the individual, the team, and the organization.
3. Provide clear instructions or mentoring or coaching when necessary, before delegating tasks.

Best Practices:

1. Set clear expectations with subordinates before delegating tasks.
2. Provide constructive feedback during and after delegation.
3. Recognize and reward good performance.
4. Share the art of delegation with peers and colleagues.

If you want to learn the art of delegation and become an effective and efficient leader, let’s talk soon! Because as the old adage says… “Time and tide wait for no man.”

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip Muangsuwan is the Founder & CEO of The Best Coach International Co., Ltd. He is a CEO & UHNWI Coach, Certified Mentor & Supervisor for global executive coaches, Holistic Life Transformation Expert, Business & Life Strategist, and Corporate Facilitator/Trainer. With a proven track record of helping clients achieve their career goals and job promotions, Atip is dedicated to supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth.